Manchester police have seized the largest amount of heroin in the city’s history.

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Adding this most recent seizure to the heroin obtained by police so far this year brings them well past last year’s record total by 37%.

Credit Sara Plourde, NHPR / Data: Manchester PD

The police seized a total of 300 grams of heroin at a street value of $30,000, the most ever seized by the city at one time. It also makes the year to date total the largest ever.

“This is what fuels our crime problem in Manchester. This is what fuels our burglaries. This is what fuels our robberies. So this is a great opportunity for us. We were able to take a lot of drugs off the street, put some bad people in jail, and we’re going to keep on doing it.”

Chief David Mara says that after an eight month investigation with the help of New Hampshire State Police and the FBI, a Manchester man, Jon LaRochelle and his girlfriend, Monique Teal, were arrested at an inner-city repair garage for possessing and dealing heroin. This led to the arrest of their supplier, a Lawrence man named Roberto Adorno who drove up with his girlfriend Ismailin Lugo.

(Clockwise from TL) Adorno, Lugo, Teal, LaRochelle

Credit Courtesy of MPD

“In addition, we found two minor children, six and sixteen years of age, inside the vehicle. Some of which were stored by the feet of the six-year-old.”

Chief Mara says the youngest was Lugo’s daughter and the teenager was her cousin. The couple from Massachusetts has been charged with child endangerment. Adorno put up a brief struggle with police so, in addition to the drug charges, he was charged with resisting arrest. A fifth Concord man, Bradley Tyrell, found at the garage during the arrest was charged with violation of parole.

In addition to the heroin, police also seized about $12,000 in cash, about 40 grams of cocaine and a collection of prescription pills.